Xbox Game Pass price changes - everything you need to know

Microsoft increasing the price of Xbox Game Pass hasn't come as a surprise, but the major changes to the basic Xbox console tier have come out of the blue and completely changed the structure of Xbox Game Pass. Firstly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs £14.99 / $19.99, it was £12.99 / $16.99 previously. Secondly, Xbox Game Pass for Console is closing, and is being replaced by Xbox Game Pass Standard in September which will cost £11.99 / $14.99 a month. This new subscription grants you Xbox Live Gold for multiplayer gaming and the catalogue of Xbox games but you no longer get day-one releases for new first-party games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 coming on October 25th.

If you want to play first-party games on day one you'll now have to have Game Pass Ultimate, which is still the only subscription with Xbox Cloud Gaming as well. If you're a PC gamer then the important changes for you are that the PC Game Pass is also increasing to £9.99 / $11.99 per month from £7.99 / $9.99, but you will still get day one game releases. 

Lastly, Xbox Game Pass Core, which replaced the old Xbox Live Gold subscription, is increasing to £55.99 / $74.99 per year but the monthly price is going to stay the same at £6.99 / $9.99.

It's a puzzling series of changes, especially for those who just want to play games on their Xbox Console, though despite the price increase Game Pass Ultimate is still one of the best deals in gaming for the amount it gives you, especially if you get it for less in a deal that you might find here on GamingDeals.

I've outlined the updated Xbox Game Pass subscription tiers with their prices and what they offer down below, and you can use the links to find the best deals on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as well:

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - £14.99 / $19.99 per month
  • Online console multiplayer, access to hundreds of games, member deals and discounts, day one titles, Game Pass Ultimate library, access to EA Play, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Perks, Quests, and discounts on games in the Game Pass library.
• Xbox Game Pass Standard - £11.99 / $14.99 per month
  • Online console multiplayer, access to hundreds of games, member deals and discounts.
• PC Game Pass - £9.99 / $11.99 per month
  • Access to hundreds of games, member deals and discounts, day one titles, access to EA Play.
• Xbox Game Pass Core - £6.99 / $9.99 per month
  • Online console multiplayer, catalogue of over 25 high-quality games, member deals & discounts.